During his early career, Valdo played for São Vicente and then Palmeiras when they were in the Second Division.
Unable to hold down a regular place within the team despite seeing them go back up in the First Division he was allowed to leave the club and would become a journeyman for several other lower league Brazilian teams, which included Juventus AC, Rio Branco EC, Jataiense, EC Pelotas, Nova Iguaçu, Moto Club, Atlético Sorocaba and Luziânia.
In 2007, he moved from Brazil for a transfer to a Tunisian club CS Hammam-Lif where he played in the First Division.
However, even with Valdo's impressive goal-scoring ability, the club was relegated from the Chinese Super League.
[2] He scored his first goal for the club on 28 April, in a 2–0 home win against Kawasaki Frontale on the 6th round of 2010 AFC Champions League group stage.